for baby, for bella

baby shower today! thanks for inviting all of us, debbie:) it is so wonderful that baby bella is doing so very well! so in the spirit of this special party, i want to share the baby photos of my two precious sons, now 11 and 7. last winter i removed these from their place of honor in our family room and took them upstairs. just the other day, my 7 year old looked at me with melancholy eyes and said "i miss those baby pictures, mama."

just to clarify - i do not have 8 children. it's just that photos have always been very meaningful to me, and i was determined to have the ubiquitous 3,6,9, and 12 month shots of each child. i fought city hall and i won! heehee. it was worth every penny and all the blood, sweat and tears of a major photo sitting with babies...enough said.

now this special occasion has caused me to recall this lovely old poem...it has always made me misty-eyed. here's to you, bella:)



ALL ON ACCOUNT OF THE BABY

An ache in the back and an ache in the arms
All on account of the baby,
A fear and a fright and a thousand alarms
All on account of the baby,
And bottles and rattles and whistles and rings
From cellar to attic a clutter of things,
From morning to night and to morning again
More fuss and more fume than an army of men
And a head that is stupid for lack of its sleep
And a heart where a flood of anxieties leap—
All on account of the baby.
A joy in the heart and a light in the eyes,
All on account of the baby
A growing content and a growing surprise
All on account of the baby
And patience that conquers a myriad frets
And a sunshiny song that another begets
And pureness of soul as a baby is pure
And sureness of faith as the children are sure
And a glory of love between husband and wife
And a saner and happier outlook on life
All on account of the baby.

(Amos R. Wells)